Orangeburg County, SC Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing findings
- Sec. 6-31, citing S.C. Code §§ 31-15-320, -330
- Owner duty
- Sec. 6-35, keep dwelling free of danger
- Remediation window
- 20 days from notice
- Enforcement body
- Community development review board
- Judicial review
- 60 days under S.C. Code § 31-15-370
- Cost recovery
- Lien on property, Sec. 6-44
Summary
Under Article VII of chapter 6, Orangeburg County has found that dwellings in the county can be unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation, fire hazards or inadequate sanitation. Sec. 6-35 places a continuing duty on every owner, including of rental housing, to keep the dwelling free of any dangerous condition.
Sec. 6-31. - Findings. In accordance with S.C. Code 1976, §§ 31-15-320 and 31-15-330, the governing body of Orangeburg County finds that there exist in the county dwellings which are unfit for human habitation due to: (1)Dilapidation;(2)Defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities;(3)Lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; or(4)Other conditions rendering such dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, dangerous or dangerous to the health, safety or morals or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the county. ... ... Sec. 6-35. - Duty of owner. The owner of a dwelling shall at all times keep the dwelling free from any dangerous condition. If there is more than one owner of a dwelling, each owner shall be fully responsible and accountable for complying with this duty.
Full Breakdown
Sec. C. Code 1976 §§ 31-15-320 and 31-15-330, that dwellings exist in the county that are unfit for human habitation because of dilapidation, defects that increase fire or accident hazards, inadequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or other conditions dangerous to health, safety or welfare. Sec. 6-32 gives the county police power to repair, close or demolish any dwelling in the unincorporated county that is unfit for habitation, administered as part of the community development code with recourse to the community development review board. Sec.
6-34 defines a "dangerous condition" broadly to include dilapidation, fire or accident hazards, inadequate ventilation or sanitary facilities, structural defects, or any condition an expert in health, fire, law enforcement or emergency services opines is unsafe. Sec. 6-35 imposes a continuing duty: the owner of a dwelling, which includes rental housing under the article's definitions, must at all times keep the dwelling free from any dangerous condition, and every owner is fully responsible if there is more than one. If a dangerous condition is not privately remedied within 20 calendar days of the county's notice under Sec. 6-39, the case proceeds under Sec. C. Code 1976 § 31-15-370 to petition circuit court before the order becomes final.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 6-36 makes it a violation of the article for a dangerous condition to exist in a dwelling, and the county may hold any or all owners responsible. An owner who neither remedies nor contests a notice within 20 days faces a formal complaint and hearing under Sec. 6-42, and the county can recover remediation costs as a lien on the property under Sec. 6-44.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Orangeburg County have a habitability standard for rental housing?
What counts as a dangerous condition in a dwelling?
What happens if an owner does not fix a dangerous condition?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orangeburg County
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